The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-10
THEY LOOKED FOR VICTIMS
A Visiting Splinter Makes an impress
sion in Local Sporting Circles.
est of the Fraternity Out of Several
Hundred Dollars and Escape.

For the past ten days those who take an in
terest in sprinters and their records have been
paying attention to two very bright young men
from Ohio. AS far any one knew they were
strangers to each other until accident brought
them together at the California House, where
one registered Thomas McClen, of Youngs-
town, and the other as Frank Brehm, of Akron.
The latter bore an alias, that of Thompson, by
which he was usually called by the frequenters
Of bar rooms with whom he came in contact. A
few nights since ne was in the Occidental ga
loop wanting to bet anywhere from $40 to $500
that he could find a man who could run 100
yards in ten seconds. If that did not suit he
would bet any that he could do
it himself He knew the record of all
thel professional sprinters and told them
on all occasions when he could
likely make an impression. While Brehm, alias
Thompson, was paving the way for a contest.
McClen now and then would mention Cross, of
a race against Brehm himself anyone he
might select. The latter concluded that his
sprinting powers were equal to the emergency.
Ed inland of the California House, also con-
sidered Brehm just the man to defeat Cross. An
arrangement was then made for the race to
take place at the Athletic Park yesterday after
stakes, the sprinter himself putting mp the other
$780, AS the race was for $500 a side. On the
same terms McClen backed Cross. The money
was placed in the hands of local sport, who
held 1t until yesterday noon, when he turned 1T
over to McClen, who had been selected as
starter.
About o'clock the contestants with their
hackers and twenty other persons met at the
park. In a few minutes Cross and Brehm ap
peared in the field ready for the race, and
shortly after that McGlen gave the word to go.
gone thirty yards before he left the track and
started after McClen, who had taken a bee-line
for the west gate of the park. There was
cessity to tell INLAND and Cross that they had
been dumped" as the slang of the sprinters has
it. INLAND realized it soon enough to draw his
revolver and send four balls in the direction OF
Brehm and MeClen. Two of the balls went wild.
but the others came uncomfortably close
to Brehm, who was the last in this short race for
life. just as he passed through the partly opened
gate the fourth ball struck where then fleeing
McClen and Brehm had carriage in waiting,
and into this they jumped. They were driven
at break-neck speed around on Seventh street.
and then east until they took q southwesterly
direction for tho National road They drove
out that road and reached the Belt, where it is
supposed they left the carriage and walked to the
nearest station: at which they took an east, bound
train. Mono of the sports who had any knowl-
edge of the affair were willing to talk about it,
although some who were not at the park said
that the match turned out as they expected.
One of tho shots, it was afterwards dlscov
cred, struck horse that was hitched to one of
the carriages which had been hired by the
sprinters. from Evans's livery stables on Sow
enth street. The animal was taken to the
stables, and DR.. Armstrong. the veterinary sur
geon. who called, said the wound would
prove fatal The horse. one of the best in the
stable, was valued at $780, chase after
Brehm and McClen proving unsuccessful the
losers sent a man out the L, B. e. ". train as
far as New Castle, with the hope that they would
attempt to board the train for Ohio at some point
bet ween here and that place. The man re-
turned at IL o'clock last night and reported that
Brehm and McClsn had not been seen anywhere
along the road.